Collapsible gas container with internal bracing



Jun 4, 1929. o. GEISLER 4 1,715,829

COLLAPSIBLE GAS CONTAINER WITH INTERNAL BRACING Filed Feb. 17, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 1 \NVENTOR a mew/.51?

ATTCRNEYs MQ Y6 June4, 1929. O.GEISLER 1,715

COLLAPSIBLE GAS CONTAINER WITH INTERNAL BRACING Filed Febjlv, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS J1me 1929- o. GEISLER 1.715.829

COLLAPSIBLE GAS CONTAINER WITH INTERNAL BRACING FilegdgFeb. 17, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 4 54.5?

@zwm g ATTORNEYS June 4, 1929. Q. GEISLER 1,715,829

COLLAPSIBLE GAS CONTAINER WITH INTERNAL BRACING Filed Feb. 17, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 JNvENToR 3% 11. a w

AT oRNeYsI Patented June 4, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

o'r'ro GEISLER, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR or ONE-THIRD T GEORGE. sent, or

CHICAGO,

rumors.

Application filed February 17, 1928. Serial No. 255,009.

My invention relates to improvements in collapsible gas containers with internal brac ings for airships of the lighter than air type, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a collapsible gas container for airships in which a major portion of the internal bracing for the airship is contained within the collapsible gas container and the bracing being arranged to collapse so as to permit the gas containers to be entirely collapsed as when emptying gas therefrom.

A further object is to. provide a gas container for an airship of such a type that the containers may be quickly and easily deflated, and entirely excluding all air from the container so that the latter may be inflated with a gas free from air.

A further object is to provide a gas container for air-ships in which the internal bracing for supporting the airship may be easily and quickly collapsed for permitting a free movement ofthe container.

A further object is to provide a gas container for an airship of such a type that a puncture through the body of the airship in any given place will not necessarily force the ship to descend.

A further object is to provide a gas container in which automatic means is provided for receiving gas which otherwise would be caused to pass into the atmosphere and thus wasted. as when the ship passes into a higher altitude.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification. and the novel features of the invention will be particularlv pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this ap plication, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of an airship embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view hmgedly secured at 12 to the alternate rings through the ship,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the device shown in Figure 3,

Figure 5 is an enlarged diagrammatic showing of a part of the internal bracing,

Figure 6 is a detail view of a portion of my device,

Figure 7 is an end View of the device shown 111 Figure 6,

' Figure 8 15 an enlarged detail-view of a portion of my device,

Figure 2, is provided with an outer casing 2.

This casing is preferably made from aluminum sheeting and is substantially cylindrical in cross section. The casing 2 is'gas-proof. The casing is secured and supported by means of a series of supporting rings 3, see Figure 1. The rings 3, as will be seen from Figure 6, are constructed from any suitablematerial, such as aluminum angles 1 supported by means of bracing 5. The ringsg3, which may be termed the outer rings, are held in spaced relation with respect to inner rings 6, see Figure 2. Suitable supporting members 7, preferably of tubular construction such as is shown in Figure 6, rigidly secure the outer rings 3 and the inner rings 6 as Shown in Figure 2. Suitable bracing members 8 further support the outer and inner rings in their respective positions.

The airship 1 is provided with a central longitudinally disposed bracing member 9, see Figure 3. The member 9 is preferably a relatively large pipe. Bracing rods 10 are disposed radially with respect to the supporting member9 and are secured to the inner rings 6 as shown inFigure 8. It will thus be seen that the shaft or pipe 9 is supported centrally with respect to the rings 3 and 6 and also thatthe shaft serves as a supporting member for therings.

Referring now to Figure 3, I have shown a plurality of bracing diagonals 11 which are 3. The diagonals 11 are hinged substantially at a mid point 13 and have their inner ends secured to the shaft 9 by means of a compressed air actuated device 14: such as that shown in Figure 4.

The inner-ends of the diagonals '11 are provided with eonnectingmembers which may be moved intolecked engagement witha cupshapeddevice 16 carried by the outer end of pistons 17 as shown in Figure 4. The pistons may be reciprocated within housings 18 byv means of compressed air or any suitable fluid medium through pipes 19. The housings 18 are mounted upon the shaft 9 as shown in Figure 3.

The alternate rings 3 to which the diagonals 11 are secured are substantially the same in construction as the alternate rings shown in Figure 3, the difference in the rings being that the rings to which the diagonals 11 are secured are provided with suitable bracing members 20, such as that shown diagrammatically in Figure 5. These bracing members may be of any suitable material, preferably of flat metal construction, and serve a twofold purpose-that additional bracing is provided for the ship, and also a backing or supporting means for the collapsible gas containers, as will be explained hereinafter. Referring now to Figure 3, it will be noted that the diagonals 11 are encased within suitable gas containers 21. The containers 21 are preferably secured to the rings It and, when inflated, move longitudinally with respect to the ship and away from the rings to which they are secured.

' The rings 3 are held in spaced relation by means of longitudinal bracing means 22. As will be seen from Figure 6, the rings 3 are secured to the supporting members 22. The inner rings 6 are also supported against longitudinal movement by means of longitudinal bracing 23. In Figure 8, I have shown the manner in which the radially disposed bracing rods are secured to the longitudinal bracing members 23. The longitudinal bracing members 23 are supported at a mid point between the rings 3 by means of fixed diagonal. members 24.

The gas containers 21 are provided with sleeve means 25 which are arranged about the longitudinal bracing 23 as shown in Figure 3. Asleeve 26 is also secured to each of the containers for sealing purposes about the shaft 9. Referring now to Figures 3, 10, and 11, it will be seen that the gas containers 21 are constructed so that during inflation or de flation the containers may move without interference from the diagonal bracings 2 1. hen the containers 21 are inflated as shown in Figure 11, the pocket portions 27 are disposed as shown. It will be seen that I have provided a pocket portion 27 for each of the fixed diagonal members 2d and that the containers21 may be so collapsed by reason of the pockets 27 that a maximum expulsion of from the containers is attained. W hen the containers 21 are entirely collapsed, as shown in a section of Figure 3, the pocket portions 27 are disposed as at 28. The containers 21 pass underneath folding bars 29 during the process of collapsin An auxiliary gas container 30 is provided within each of the containers 21. The proportion of the containers 30 with respect to the containers 21 is shown in Figure 2. Suitable walls 31 are provided between which the auxiliary gas containers 30 are disposed. A pipe 32 is secured to each of the containers 30 and is provided with an automatic valve 33 which is disposed within the containers 21. A suitable outlet valve 3a is also secured to the auxiliary containers 30. A corridor 3.5 is situated between the walls 31 as shown in Figure 2.

In Figure 3, I have shown the diagonals 11 disposed in their bracing position and also the position of the diagonals when the gas containers 21 are in their collapsed position. A suitable wire rope or other means 36 is secured to each or the diagonals relatively near the hinge 13 and passes around pulley means 37. A similar rope or wire 38 is secured to the connecting members 15, the rope passing through a pulley 39 carried by the cupshaped devices 16.

he wire. 36 and 38 are passed to any suitable location in the ship and may be actuated manually or by any suitable mechanism which forms no part of the present invention.

Means for permitting gas within the containers 21 to pass into the atmosphere consists of a tubular member 10 disposed within each of the containers and passing through the casing 29 at 41. The inner ends of the tubes 10 are provided with suitable automatic valve means for permitting the gas to pass through the tubes. Suitable means 42 is provided for permitting the inlet and outlet of air surrounding the auxiliary containers 30. Any suitable means 3 is provided for permitting gas to be passed into the containers 21.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. lVhen it is desired to collapse the containers for excluding the gas, the diagonals'll are moved into the position shown at the right in Figure 3. Movement of the wires 36 permits the diagonals to be so collapsed that the containers 21 will assume the position shown, thereby excluding all of the gas within the container. Before the diagonals ll can be collapsed, the connecting members 15 must of course be disconnected from the cup-shaped members 16. i l r 7 Let us assume now that one of the gas containers 21 is entirely collapsed, as shown at the right in Figure 3. The first step of course is f to pass suitable gas into the container, whereupon the latter will expand from the ring R and assume the position shown at the left. The wires 38 are then pulled for moving the connecting members 15 into the cupshaped members 16, thereby operatively connecting the diagonals with the pistons 17. Compressed air may then be passed into the housings 18 for moving the pistons 17 inwardly, thereby placing each of the diagonals under proper tension for rigidly bracing the ship. before the diagonals 11 can be moved into their collapsed position, the pistons 17 must of course be moved back to their full line position shown in Figure 4. When the containers 21 are suificiently inflated, they of course bear against the alternate rings 3 provided with the additional bracing members 20.

Let us assume that the ship is in the air and that it is necessary to pass the gas from the containers 21 to the auxiliary containers 30. Passage of gas into the auxiliary containers 30 occurs when the ship passes into a higheraltitude, at which time the external pressure u )011 the exterior of the shi is reducedso that it is necessary to reduce the pressure within the ship. This transfer or passage of gas is automatic in that the valve is opened by the pressure of the gas, whereupon the gas may pass into the auxiliary containers 30. The gas within the auxiliary containers 30 may be passed back to the containers 21 through the valves 34. These valves may be operated by any suitable means not shown.

In referring to Figure 3,itwillbenotedthat the sleeve means 25 which are associated with the longitudinal bracing members 23, in addition to performing a scaling function, also coaet with the container 21 during the process of expansion so that the possibility of rotation of the container is limited. This is an important feature since it will be observed that the pockets 27 must necessarily move in a sub stanti ally predetermined path so that the pockets will enclose the fixed diagonal members 24:. Since a. sleeve 25 is provided for each of the longitudinal bracing members 23, it will be understood that the containers 21 are accurately guided so that a maximum amount of expansion is attained.

In Figure 2, I have shown bracing means 6% The brace is encased within a. suitable sleeve which is in tcgral with the auxiliary gas container 30. The sleeve of course is a sealing means for preventing the passage of gas from the auxiliary container 30 to the exterior thereof. Sleevemeans is disposed about that part of the inner ring 6 which is disposed within the walls 31. The compressed air actuated device 14, as shown in Figure 4-, is disposed within the container 21 shown at the right in Figure 2. It is understood of course that *ach diagonal 11 is provided with .a piston 17. In Figure 3, I have shown only a sufficient number of the compressed air actuated devices to make clear the manner in which these devices are associated with the diagonals. Since the construction and operation of the diagonals are identical, 1 have shown in Figure 3 only a sufficient number to illustrate the relative position and operation of, each of the coacting members.

'Thecorridor '35 may be used for various purposes, such as providing a passageway for the operators of the airship, and also a means for storing various necessities, such as fuel tanks, etc.

Suitable means 46 is provided for each of the pistons 17, as shown in Figure 4. When the pistons are moved inwardly for thepurpose of placing the diagonals under proper tension, the means 46 engage the pistons so as to hold the latter, thereby locking the pistons until it is desired to release them. Any suitable means may be provided for actuating the locking means 46 at will.

I have used the term pockets to define the construction of the gas containers 21 at those points where the containers pass the fixed diagonal members. The term pockets has been used for the want of a better term.

twill be. noted from my drawings that when the main gas containers 21 are in their collapsed position, certain of the fixed diagonal members are disposed within the pocket portions .7. When the gas containers 21 are I traded, will be seen that the pocket portions 2? permit the containers to expand to their maximum position and that the pocket portions 27 are moved and fold around another of the fixed diagonal members- This construction provldes a gas container in which displacement due to internal bracings and the like is reduced to a minimum. It will be seen that the construction of the pockets 27 is such that the gas containers may be inflated or deflated with no interference from the internal fixed bracing and that the pockets are of such a type that the weight of the containers is Very little affected by the additional cloth in the pockets.

After the containers 21 have been collapsed and the gas has passed therefrom, a vacuum is created within the containers for the purpose of securing one hundred per cent expulsion of air therefrom so that the containers when they are again inflated are filled with one hundred per cent The vacuum maybe created by any suitable means not shown. r

I claim:

1. The combination of an outer casing for an airship of the lighter than air type, supporting means disposed in spaced relation, collapsible gas-containing means secured to certain i of said spaced-apart supporting means and adapted to be inflated and to be supported by the other of said spaced-apart supporting means, and collapsible bracing means secured to cor ain of said spaced-apart means and disposed within said gas-containing means.

2. The combination of an outer casing for an airship of the lighter than air type, supporting means d sposed in spaced relation, collapsible gas-containing means secured to certain of said spaced-apart supporting means and adapted to be inflated and to be supported by the other of said spaced-apart supporting means, collal sible bracing means secured to certain of said spaced-apart supporting means and disposed. Within said gascontaining means, and auxiliary gas-containing means disposed Within said collapsible gas-containing means for receiving gas from said collapsible gas-containing means.

3. The combination of an outer casing for an airship of the lighter than air type, sup porting means disposed in spaced relation, collapsible gas-containing means secured to certain of said spaced-apart supporting means and adapted to be inflated and to be supported by the other of said spaced-apart supporting means, collapsible bracing means secured to certain of said spaced-apart supporting means and disposed Within said gascontaining means, auxiliary gas-containing means for receiving gas from said collapsible gas-containing means, and automatic means operatively connecting said auxiliary gascontaining means with said collapsible gascontaining means.

4:. The combination of an outer casing for an airship of the lighter than air type, supporting means disposed in spaced relation, collapsible gas-containing means secured to certain of said spaced-apart supporting means and adapted to be inflated and to be supported by the other of said spaced-apart supporting means, collapsible bracing means secured to certain of said spaced-apart supporting means and disposed Within said gascontaining means, auxiliary gas-containing means for receiving gas from said collapsible gas-containing means, automatic means operativcly connecting said auxiliary gas-containing means with said collapsible gas-containing means, and means operatively connected with said collapsible bracing means for placing said last-named means under bracing tension.

5. The combination of an outer casing tor an airship of the lighter than air type, supporting means disposed in spaced relation, collapsible gas-containing means secured to certain of said spaced-apart supporting means and adapted to be inflated and to be supported by the other of said spaced-apart supporting means, collapsible bracing means secured to certain of said spaced-apart supporting means and disposed Within said gascontaining means, auxiliary gas-containing means for receiving gas from said collapsible. gas-containing means, automatic means operatively connecting said a :ziliary gas-containing means with said collapsible gas-containing means, means operatively connected with said collapsible bracing means for placing said last-named means under bracing tension, and means for supporting the collapsible bracing in its collapsed position.

6. A collapsible gas container comprising supportin means, movable supporting members disposed on the opposite sides thereof, and collapsible gas-containing means secured. to said supporting means and enclosing said movable supporting members.

7. The combination of an outer casing for an airship of the lighter than air type, spacedapart supporting members disposed Within the casing, a central longitudinally disposed bracing member disposed Within the casing, collapsible gas-containing means secured to certain of said s )aced-apart supporting members, and sleeve means integral With said gascontaining means and secured to the central longitudinally disposed bracing member.

8. The combination of an outer casing for an airship oi the lighter than air type, spacedapart supporting members disposed Within the casing, a central longitudinally disposed bracing member disposed Within the casing, collapsible gas-containing means secured to certain of said spaced-apart supporting members, sleeve means integral With said gascontaining means and secured to the central longitudinally disposed bracing member, and a plurality of longitudinally disposed bracing means.

9. The combination of an outer casing for an airship of the lighter than air type, spacedapart supporting members disposed Within the casing, a central longitudinally disposed bracing member disposed Within the casing, collapsible gas-containing means secured to certain of said spaced-apart supporting members, sleeve means integral with said gas containing means and secured to the central longitudinally disposed bracing member, a plurality of longitudinally disposed bracing means, and sleeve means integral with said collapsible gas-containing means and secured to said plurality of longitudinally disposed bracing means.

10. The combination of an outer casing for an airship of the lighter than air type, spacedapart supporting members disposed Within the casing, a central longitudinally disposed bracing member disposed Within the casing, collapsible gas-containing means secured to certain. of said spaced-apart supporting mem bers, sleeve means integral With said containing means and secured to the central longitudinallydisposed bracing member, a plurality of longitudinally disposed bracing means, sleeve means integral with said collapsible gas-containing means and secured to said plurality of longitudinally disposed bracing means, and auxiliary gas-containing ill) means disposed Within each or said collapsible gas-containing means.

11. The con'ibination of an outer casing for an airship of the lighter than air type, spaced apart supporting members disposed Within the casing, a central longitudinally disposed bracing member disposed Within the casing, collapsible gas-containing means secured to certain of said spaced-apart supporting mem= bers, sleeve means integral with said gascontaining means and secured to the central longitudinally disposed'bracing member, a plurality of longitudinally disposed bracing means, sleeve means integral with said collapsible gas-containing means and secured to said plurality of longitudinally disposed bracing means, auxiliary gas-containing means disposed Within each of said collapsible gas-containing means, and means actuated by the pressure of gas within said gas-containing means for operatively connecting the latter with said auxiliary gas-containing means.

12. The combination of an outer casing for an airship of the lighter than air type, spaced-apart supporting members disposed within the casing, a central longitudinally disposed bracing member disposed within the casing, collapsible gas-containing means secured to certain of said spaced-apartsupporting members, sleeve means integral with said gas-containing means and secured to the central longitudinally disposed bracing memher, a plurality oflongitudinally disposed bracing means, sleeve means integral with said collapsible gas-containing means and secured to said plurality of longitudinally disposed bracing means, auxiliary gas-containing means disposed within each of said collapsible gas-containing means, means actuated by the pressure of gas within said gascontaining means for operatively connecting the latter with said auxiliary gas-containing means, and means actuated by the pressure of gas within the collapsible gas-containing means for conveying gas to the exterior of said airship.

13. The combination of an outer casing for an airship of the lighter than air type, a plurality of spaced-apart supporting members disposed within the casing, collapsible gas containing means alternately secured to certain of said spaced-apart supporting mem bers, a plurality of longitudinally disposed bracing members concentrically spaced away from said casing, and diagonal bracing members associated with said longitudinally disposed bracing members for rigidly supporting the latter and saidspaced-apart members, said collapsible gas containing means being provided with pockets arranged to receive certain 01'? said diagonal bracing members when said collapsible gas containing means is in an inflated or a deflated condition.

l l. The combination of an outer casing of an airship of the lighter than air type, a plurality of spaced-apart supporting members disposed within the casing, collapsible gas containing means alternately secured to certain of said spaced-apart supporting mem bers, a plurality of longitudinally disposed bracing members spaced away from said casing, rigid diagonal bracing members associated with said longitudinally disposed bracing members for supporting the latter and said spaced-apart members, said collapsiblegas containing means being provided wlth pockets arranged to receive certain of said diagonal bracing members when said collapsible gas containing means is in an inflated or a deflated condition, and collapsible bracing disposed within said collapsible gas containing means for bracing said airship.

15. The combination of an outer casing of an airship of the lighter than air type, a plurality of spaced-apart supporting members disposed within the casing, collapsible gas containing means alternately secured to certain of said spaced-apart supporting members, a plurality of longitudinally disposed bracing members spaced away from said casing, rigid diagonal bracing members associated with said longitudinally disposed bracing members for supporting the latter and said spaced-apart members, said coliapsible gas containing means being provided with pockets arranged to receive certain of said diagonal bracing members when said collapsible gas containing means is in an inflated or a deflated condition, collapsible bracing disposed within said collapsible gas containing means for bracing said airship, and means for placing said collapsible bracing under bracing tension.

16. A collapsible gas container comprising supporting means, movable supporting members disposed on the opposite sides thereof, collapsible gas containing means secured to said supporting means and enclosing said,

movable supporting members, and means for placing said movable supporting members under bracing tension.

17. The combination of an outer casing for an airship or the lighter than air type, a plurality or spaced-apart supporting members disposed within the casing, a plurality of longitudinally disposed bracing members disposed Within the casing, and inflatable containing means secured to certain of said spaced-apart supporting members, said inflatable gas containing means being provided with aplurality of sleeves disposed upon said longitudinally disposed bracing members.

18. The combination of an outer casing for an airship of the lighter than air type, a plurality of spaced-apart supporting members disposed within the casing, a plurality of longitudinally disposed bracing members disposed within the casing, inflatable gas containing means secured to certain of said spaced-apart supporting members, said inflatable gas containing means being provided with a plurality of sleeves disposed upon said longitudinally disposed bracing members, and a plurality of collapsible bracing members disposed within said inflatable-gas containing means.

10 with a plurality of sleeves disposed upon said longitudinally disposed bracing members, a plurality ofcollapsible bracing members disposed Within said inflatable gas containing means, and means for placing and holding said collapsible bracing members under bracing tension.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 14th day of F ebruary A. I). 1928.

OTTO GEISLER. 

